Internal-combustion engine.



PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

J. A. ARTHUR. INTERNAL ooMBUsTIoN ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 15. 1904.

@5E awww UNITED STATES JOSEPH A. ARTHUR, OF NEW ISIDORE WEILL ANDSANFORD YORK,

Patented February 21, 1,905.

PATENT OEEICE.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,812, dated February21, 1905. Application iled February 15,1904. Serial No. 193,646.

.T0 all whom it ntety concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. ARTHUR, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Internal-CombustionEngines; and Idohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in internal-combustion engines, andparticularly to ignition devices therefor; and it consists in l novelmeans for igniting explosive charges in such engines by the compressionof asmall quantity of combustible gas to a point at which the ignitionis automatic.

My invention further consists in novel features of construction of theigniting device, as hereinafter set forth,and particularly pointcd outin the claims.

The objects of my invention are to avoid the use of iiame or electricigniters and obtain automatic ignition by compression of combustiblegases to the ignition-point without excessively-high compression in thecombustioncylinders, to regulate the time of ignition, and to make theignition device simple, compact, and eicient.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which a compound engine the high-pressurecylinders of which have igniters embodying my said invention isillustrated and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 shows a central horizontal sectionthrough the enginecylinders. Fig. 2 shows a transverse section of thecylinders on the line of the crank-shaft. Fig. 3 shows a centralvertical longitudinal section of the low-pressure cylinder. Fig. 4 showsa detail side elevation and partial section of one of the ignitingdevices. Fig. 5 shows a detail cross-section of one of the auxiliary compression-cylinders through the center of its admission-valve.

In the said drawings numeral 1 designates high-pressure or combustioncylinders, 2 lowpressure cylinders,and 3 a crank-shaftcornmon 5 O to thecylinders. The high-pressure cylinders are arranged opposite each otherwith their pistons 4 in line, and the cylinders 2 are similarly arrangedbeside the high-pressure cylinders. Ports 5 connect the high-pressu reand low- 55 pressure cylinders, the high-pressure pistons 4 formingslide-valves for these ports. rIhe low-pressure cylinders are providedwith exhaust-ports 6, Fig. 3, communicating with an exhaust-space 7,Fig. 2, and the low-pressure 6C pistons 8 form slide-valves for theseexhaustports. The high-pressure pistons are connected to move together,and the low-pressure pistons are similarly connected in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 3 byspacing-pieces 9. The 65 connecting-rods aretoggle-links 10, each comprising a main section provided with a curvedT-head, fitting within a socket of the corresponding' piston, and abearing-section 11, titting into a socket in the main section and havinga bearing for the cranks of the crank-shaft 3. The position assumed bythe connecting-rods at half-stroke is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

I have shown the cylinders surrounded by the usual cooling-jacket 12,through which cooling-water may be circulated.

Any suitable type of admission-valves and valve-gear may be employed. Ihave shown for the purpose ordinary spring-closed puppetadmission-valves 13, arranged to be opened 50 by suction; butpositively-operated valves may be used instead.

For igniting the explosive charges I provide means for compressing' asmall quantity of combustible gas tosuch point that it will V ignite andcause the burning' gases to pass into the combustion-chamber and minglewith the main charge therein, which has been compressed, but notnecessarily to so high a pressure. Such ignition means comprisescylinders 14, arranged in line with the high-pressure cylinders, thepistons of which cylinders 14 are tail-rods 15 projecting from thepistons 4, said cylinders having ports or passages 16 for connectingthem with their respective 95 combustion or working cylinders 1. A pipe17 connects with each of these cylinders 14 for the purpose of supplyinggaseous fuel thereto, each such pipe being provided with a check-valvecomprising a valve-plug 18, coacting with a taper valve-scat and limitedin its motion by a pin 19 working in a slot in the stem of the valve, sothat accidental contact of the valve with the auxiliarycompressionpiston 15 is prevented. Communication bctween cylinders 14and their passages 16 is normally prevented by valve-pistons 20, passingthrough stuffing-boxes 21 in the ends of cylinders 14 and provided withcushion-springs 22, retained in place by spring-cages 23, arranged toscrew upon the cylinders 14. At

the instant of explosion of a charge in the auxiliarycompression-cylinder 14 valve-piston 2O is forced back, permitting theburning' gases to pass through passages 16 into the cylinder 1 andignite the charge there. During the ensuing' expansion period the piston2O is forced forward by its cushion-spring 22, again closing passages16.

The operation of the engine is as follows: At the beginning' of thesuction-stroke in each high-pressure cylinder the piston 4 draws intosaid cylinder through the admission-valve a charge of combustible gas,the ignition-piston 15 at the same time drawing into the auxiliarycylinder 14 a charge of combustible gas. 1n the succeedingcompression-stroke the charges in cylinders 1 and 14 are compressed, thecharge in 14 being compressed until at or near the end of the stroke.The gas in 14 ignites automatically, forcing back the piston 20, and sopassing through passages 16 into the cylinder 1 and igniting the maincharge there. Near the end of the ensuing expansion-stroke the piston 4uncovers the port 5. leading to the low-pressure cylinder, so that onthe next stroke the gases are exhausted from cylinder 1 into cylinder 2and expand therein, doing effective work. Near the end of theexpansion-stroke in the low-pressure cylinder its piston uncovers theexhaust-port 6 of that cylinder, and on the next succeeding stroke thegases exhaust into chamber 7 and thence out through a suitableexhaustoutlet. The time of ignition may be regulated by screwing thespring-cages 23 in or out. This has the effect of varying the point inthe stroke at which the igniting charge reaches the pressure ofautomatic ignition. 'It is obviously an easy matter to vary this time asdesired while the engine is ruiming.

YVhile l have described the engine as operating on the four-cycle plan,it is obvious that it may also operate upon the two-cycle plan, meansbeing provided for compressing the charge initially and theadmission-ports of the higl'i-pressure cylinders arranged to admit thecharge thereto after the exhaust-ports have been opened and the portsfor admitting gas to the auxiliary compression-cylinders 14 beingsimilarly arranged.

It is obvious that my invention is susceptible of many variations andmodifications and that certain parts may be used in connection withother parts of different construction, for which reason I. do not limitmyself to the details of construction and arrangement herein illustratedand described.

Vhat 1 claim is 1. In an internal-combustion engine, the combinationwith a working cylinder and means for supplying a combustible chargethereto, and a piston for said cylinder, of igniting means comprising anauxiliary compression-cylinder, a piston for said auxiliary cylinderderiving its motion from said firstnamed piston, means for admitting acombustible charge to said auxiliary cylinder, said auxiliary cylinderhaving a passage for connccting it with said first-named cylinder, and

an outwardly-opening valve having a spring arranged to resist outwardmovement thereof, said valve normally closing said passage, but arrangedto be operated by pressure within said auxiliary cylinder when ignitionoccurs therein.

2. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination with a main workingcylinder having means for admitting a combustible charge thereto, and apiston for said cylinder, of an auxiliary compression-cylinder, a pistontherefor, means for admitting combustible gas to said auxiliarycylinder, said auxiliary cylinder having a passage connecting it withthe main cylinder, a valve normally closing said passage and projectingthrough the end of said auxiliary cylinder, said valve arranged to beopened by pressure resulting from combustion in said auxiliary cylinder,a spring arranged to permit said valve to vield when ignition occurs insaid auxiliary cylinder, and means for adjusting the action of saidspring.

3. ln an internal-combustion engine, the combination with a main workingcylinder having means for supplying a combustible `charge thereto, andapiston therefor, of an auxiliary compression-cylinder in line with saidmain cylinder, a piston for said auxiliary cylinder projecting from andactuated by a piston of the main cylinder, means for admitting acombustible gas to said auxiliary cylinder, said auxiliary cylinderhaving a passage connecting it with the main cylinder, and aspring-actuated valve normally closing said passage but arranged to beactuated by pressure resulting from combustion in said auxiliarycylinder to open said passage.

4. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination with a main workingcylinder having means for supplying a combustible charge thereto, and apiston therefor, of an auxiliary compression-cylinder in line with saidmain cylinder, a piston for said auxiliary cylinder projecting from andactuated by a piston of the main cylinder, means for admitting acombustible gas to said auxiliary cylinder, said auxiliary cylinderhaving a passage connecting it with the main cylinder, a

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valve normally closing said passage and pro- In testimony whereof I afiXmy signature in jeoting through the end of said auxiliary eyithepresence of two witnesses.

inder, a spring arranged to act upon the prof jeeting portion of saidValve to press the Valve JOSEPH A' A1 {IHUR 5 inward, and a spring-cageinclosing the spring Witnesses:

and adjustably secured to the auxiliary cyl- C. F. CARRINGTON,

H. M. MARBLE.

inder.

